Weekly Recap: October 20-26, 2013

I've noticed that many bloggers do a recap at the end of each week and since I actually love reading those posts, I thought I'd start doing it as well!

I was wishing for a more relaxed week but honestly, this week was JUST as exhausting. Every year, our school organizes 'United Way Week' which is basically one week of fundraising for the charity, United Way. Each class organizes 'class projects' or what they're going to be selling to raise money and throughout the week, during the morning and lunch, the projects will go up. It ranges from food to bracelets to candy - literally ANYTHING you think you can sell. One popular project are the Saxograms which is when the saxophone players get paid to go around the school and surprise people with a thirty second performance of a song previously picked by the person who sent it. I actually received one of I Knew You Were Trouble and I have to admit that while it was cool, I really prefer to NOT be the one at the end of it. 

Besides the class projects, there were also events that the United Way Committee organized to raise extra money. On Monday, we had the Admin Olympics where for a toonie, you can either choose to play Just Dance with a teacher or throw a shaving cream pie at our principal and vice-principal. Tuesday was the talent show which I did go to! There were some great singers who took the stage and dancers. Wednesday was Minute to Win It which if you don't know, was a game show in which contestants must complete a task under 60 seconds. I did not go to that so I can't tell you how it was but I bet it was pretty fun too! There were prizes for the winners as well. Thursday was Faculty Follies which is, by far, the most popular event all week. It's when the teachers come together to prepare special acts for the students and they were all SO good. The first act was a video put together by the Moderns Language department and it was a parody of an episode of Community. And even though I don't watch Community, it was pretty funny. Next was a performance by a Math teacher. He sang two songs and was amazing! After that was a performance by the Science department of The Fox (What Does The Fox Say?) which was hilarious. The teachers dressed up in animal costumes and just seemed to have a really great time. My science teacher was a cow which was pretty funny. And finally, Friday was the Great Race when the associations of my school get together to participate in one fun race. By Friday, I was extremely tired so I decided not to go. Well, there's always next year!

In regards to my blogging, well, there wasn't much of that this week. I had so much more planned but they slipped away from me. I have a full schedule next week and while I still have TONS of planning left, I'm going to try and get my material out! 

Also, I sent a tweet out the other day about how I didn't have something planned for Halloween but wanted to. I have NO ideas so if you do and are happy to share, I would love to hear them!

1. Pinhole cameras. This week, I discovered that my camera actually works! Woohoo! I've taken some great tests but still have yet to get my print but I am getting there. Slowly.

2. Candy Crush Saga. Yup, still loving it! I'm on level 57 now!

3. Sweet potato fries. I've been eating these non-stop this week. They're so good!

4. Slow Down by Selena Gomez. I didn't have much time to listen to music this week but after hearing this on the radio on Sunday it's been stuck in my head! 

My first review of the week: Paper Towns by John Green where I explain why John Green's work doesn't appeal to me.

I did the first half of The Harry Potter Survey created by Jasmine. Expect Part Two sometime this next week!

My second review of the week: Second Chance Summer by Morgan Matson where I explain why I liked this book so much.

Reem shares tips on how to stop procrastinating in regards to NaNoWriMo.

Christina explains why she loves the Queen's Thief series. I might have to get back into it now!

Sandra wonders if she can still be objective when reading a book by a favourite author.

Asti compiles this HILARIOUS list of ten unusual names.

Melissa compares Bloglovin' and Feedly. It might help you decide which one to go with! 

Reem is back with a list of characters you should NOT dress up as for Halloween.

Another Christina shares her experiences with blogging and what she has learned.

How was your week? What book are you loving right now? Any posts you would like to share? Anything you want to see on The Runaway Reader in the upcoming weeks? Share in the comments!

Second Chance Summer by Morgan Matson

Second Chance Summer by Morgan Matson

Published May 7, 2012 by Simon & Schuster's Children Publishing

Paperback, 468 pages

Borrowed from library

When Taylor's father is diagnosed with cancer, her whole world turns upside down. With four months left to live, Taylor's dad decides that the family will go back to their old summer home in the Poconos and enjoy one last summer all together. 

After a string of disappointing novels recently, I'm glad for Second Chance Summer by Morgan Matson. I was eager to get my hands on this after loving Matson's debut, Amy and Roger's Epic Detour and reading countless rave reviews. And now, having finished the book, I am happy to say that this book did not disappoint! 

One of the best parts about this book were the characters. I'm a very character-driven reader and to have good characters in a book really elevates the entire thing for me. And you know what? I loved EVERYONE in this book. Even the grandfather! I'm having a hard time pin-pointing why they worked so well for me because really, it was a multitude of factors that came together and blended into one wonderful concoction. The way Matson wrote in an almost intimate way really helped me to connect and gain a strong understanding of where each character stood and that was very impressive. Taylor's development was another key point in this book and I also thought it was splendidly done. 

To be honest though, there was a lot more romance in this book than I would have wanted. I am actually a huge fan of romance but I feel there's a time and place for it. And while I have no reservations against it being in this book - in fact, it was welcome because Henry was such a great love interest - sometimes, it just felt like the romance was the center of this book and not the family. It's obvious Taylor and Henry had a very strong chemistry and I thoroughly enjoyed seeing it bloom. I just wish that Matson would have integrated the romance more smoothly into the book and not at the expense of the family development. After all, that is what this book is supposed to be about, right? Instead, I found myself flipping page after page of sexual tension between Henry and Taylor and Taylor trying to sort out her feelings. While I can't deny that I squealed for the majority of those pages, in retrospect, less romance would have been better.

I also thought the whole debacle between Taylor and her ex-best friend, Lucy and ex-boyfriend, Henry was rather lame, I guess. I mean, Matson had been building up to this moment that would explain why Henry and Lucy were so hostile to Taylor when she returned to the Poconos and it seemed so dramatic and grand and shocking. When we found out what happened though, it was all quite anticlimatic - not nearly enough to explain why Henry and Lucy were holding a five-year grudge against Taylor. And the proof of that is in the story itself. For people who supposedly 'hated' Taylor, they certainly got over that fact rather quickly and for me, that in itself is indication at how juvenile the whole thing was. 

And though I hate to pick on such a tiny detail, it really bugged me that Lucy's presence in the Poconos was never explained. As Henry so kindly pointed out to us in the book, so many things can change in the span of five years. It makes sense that Lucy might leave the Poconos in five years and while it's totally acceptable that she had remained, the fact is that her appearance is rather out of nowhere. I do recall Taylor making a note of how the sign the Marinos, Lucy's family, put up on their front lawn was no longer there. As long as they were in that same house, I see no reason why they would take it down. So how exactly was Lucy at the Poconos? This lack of explanation really highlighted how very conveniently Lucy ended up working exactly where Taylor would and while I suppose it was necessary that Lucy and Taylor meet somehow, maybe it could have been less obviously. 

But I have to say that the ending blew me away and really increased the overall rating for this book. After so much dilly dallying with the romance between Henry and Taylor, I finally got what I wanted from this book and it was magnificent. Everything was written in heartbreaking detail and as someone who doesn't cry during books, I admit that the ending encouraged a few tears to drip from eyes. It really touched a very personal, very emotional place for me and my only criticism is that I wish the emotion wasn't all rushed in at the end. 

While I did expect more from Second Chance Summer, overall, I really enjoyed it. I zoomed through this book in two days. The writing is very fluid and the characters are great. Though I did want less of Henry and Taylor's romance, I have to say it was very well done. The ending was AMAZING and is the main reason why this book gets four stars. I only wish that the emotion had come through earlier in the book as well. And because comparison is inevitable, I have to mention that while Amy and Roger's Epic Detour was a more solid read, Second Chance Summer brought more emotion and depth. 

romance seekers and fans of Sarah Dessen. Also for people who enjoy (mostly) light and fast reads. If you're known to cry while reading books, you may want to avoid reading the ending in a public space without tissues.

The Harry Potter Survey Pt. 1

I don't know if you know, but I'm a pretty huge Harry Potter fan so naturally, when I noticed that Jasmine made a Harry Potter survey, I was like HECK YEAH. There is no such thing as too much Harry Potter in this world. Remember that.

Basically, how this survey works is I list a book for each spell that has either been casted ON me or BY me. If you're interested in participating, visit Jasmine's blog Flip That Page to get the details and join the Potterhead mission to rule the world! Yay!

However, since this survey took me a lot longer to do than planned, I have split it up into two parts. Part 1 is going up today and Part 2, later this week or early next week so stay tuned!

Reparo

fixes damaged objects
(a book that needs fixing)
---
This is without a doubt, The Recruit by Robert Muchamore. This book could have been SO much better if the author would have just paid a little more attention to his writing and storyline. Loved this book (and this series) nonetheless.

Lumos

creates a narrow beam of light
(a book that deserves more attention)
---
Every Soul A Star by Wendy Mass. This book was BEAUTIFUL guys. You have to read this now. I don't even want to look at you until you do. Go.

Nox

counters the effects of Lumos
(a book that is overhyped)
---
Divergent by Veronica Roth. It was good but not THAT good.

Accio

summons an object from a significant distance
(a book you're anticipating)
---
There are so many but one that pops into mind is Isla and the Happily Ever After by Stephanie Perkins because I love her and I've been waiting for this FOREVER. Also, who doesn't want more of Josh (come on, we were all secretly crushing on him too in Anna!) and MANHATTAN. I have no words.

Alohomora

opens unlocked doors, unless bewitched
(a book you want to be more open about)
---

I would really love to be more open about Anatomy of a Boyfriend by Daria Snadowsky because it was a very good book. It was highly educational and really explored some serious topics regarding sex. But I feel most people judge the cover or the title or what it's about before even getting to it, which needless to say, annoys me. 

Expecto Patronum

conjures an incarnation of positive feelings
(a book that made you cry, or at least want to)

---

Don't groan at me when I say this: A Walk to Remember by Nicholas Sparks. I would definitely say this is his best book and gosh, it was SO SAD. If you've read this book (or even seen the movie), you'd understand.

Morsmordre

conjures the Dark Mark
(a book you wish to mark as one of your favourites)
---
The Book Thief by Markus Zusak deserves to be marked for sure!

Petrificus Totalus

petrifies victim
(a book you wish to keep forever)
---
The book I wish to keep forever is Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery. This book changed my life and I will be darned if I don't have a copy with me forever.

Protego

shield charm
(an intimidating book you keep putting off)
---
Wicked by Gregory Macguire has been sitting on my bookshelf for three years and I have not lifted a finger on it past page four. Why, I'm not sure but somehow, I just CAN'T get to this book.

Riddikulus

used against a boggart
(a book with a deceiving synopsis)
---
Riddikulus must have been used on Revenge of the Girl with the Great Personality by Elizabeth Eulberg because the title, not the synopsis (so I'm bending the rules a bit...) is totally misleading! In nowhere in this does Lexi partake in 'revenge' so where did that come from?

Lacarnum Inflamarae

shoots fireballs
(a book you wish to burn out of your mind completely)
---
Not to be mean but this is DEFINITELY Somebody Up There Hates You by Hollis Seamon. I have very little interest in reading a book about teenagers losing their virginities.

Wingardium Leviosa

levitates objects
(a book you wish to reread)
---
I wish to reread The Lost Hero by Rick Riordan because I can't deal with everyone talking about how good House of Hades is when I haven't even read Son of Neptune!

Avada Kedavra

causes instant death
(worst book EVER)
---
I'm sorry to say that this title goes to Populazzi by Elise Allen. Every character in that book was SO infuriating and because I'm a very character-driven reader, that is the WORST OF THE WORST.

And that's all for Part 1! If you want to read Part 2, check back here in a couple of days. I'll do my best to get it up in a timely manner.

Now it's your turn! Are you a Potterhead? Have you done this survey? And is there any spell you would cast on a book?